Stories from Saturday, June 18, 2005

Historic Midtown Development Group looks to revitalize downtown(06/18/05)SIKESTON - A new name for the Downtown Merchants Association is only the first of many changes its members hope to make. The Historic Midtown Development Group, which replaces the Downtown Merchants Association, was formed with a specific goal in mind, according to the group's president, Robin Pace: "To improve our downtown area to bring in more visitors, more tourists, but also for the enjoyment of the people who live here."...

State soybeans being tested for rust tolerance(06/18/05)PORTAGEVILLE -- As Missouri farmers play the waiting game with Asian soybean rust this summer, Missouri plant breeders are eagerly awaiting the results of local varieties being grown in rust-infected plots in Vietnam. Last month soybean breeder Grover Shannon of the University of Missouri's Delta Center in Portageville, along with other University of Missouri plant breeders, visited Vietnam to check on the varieties as well as update the Vietnamese farmers on soybean breeding and biotechnology...

Local man makes choice and then gains two boys(06/18/05)SIKESTON -- Jim Miller used to read about the generation gap and never really understood what it meant. Now, he says, he knows. In 1998, Miller and his wife, Janet, had only been married a couple of years when Janet's oldest daughter experienced severe personal problems. They were faced with a tough decision: either take in Janet's daughter's two children -- then 2-year-old Garren and 8-month-old Sam -- or put them into the state's foster care system...

Ashton Farmer: Physical specimen(06/18/05)CHARLESTON - Take one look at Ashton Farmer and it doesn't take a sports enthusiast to know that he is an athlete. At a strapping 6-foot-7, 230 pounds, Farmer has a big-time look. But the look isn't all he has. He also has ability as he dominated the area in football and basketball and played a vital role on a state placing relay team in track and field for the Charleston Bluejays...

Puckett's three hits not enough as Bombers fall to Union City(06/18/05)SIKESTON - The Bootheel Bombers (4-3) saw their four-game winning streak come to an end on Friday night as the Union City Greyhounds (3-1) slipped by late in the game to get the 5-3 victory. The contest was tied 3-3 after eight, but two runs by the Greyhounds in the top of the ninth proved to be too much for the Bombers to overcome...

Kelly Essner: Team player(06/18/05)BENTON -- The Essner legacy of excellence in athletics continues with the selection of Kelly Essner as the 2005 Standard Democrat Female Athlete of the Year. Kelly follows in the footsteps of sisters Marissa, who garnered the same honor in both 1999 and 2000, and Dana, a Standard Democrat Basketball Dream Team selection in 2003...

Funeral chapel adds to its staff(06/18/05)SIKESTON - J.W. Nelson and Betty Brokal have joined the staff at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. Nelson, who was previously employed at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel from 1959 through 1967 assisting then-owner Gene Nunnelee, is a licensed funeral director. "We very glad that J.W. expressed a desire to come back to the funeral profession and work again at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel," said Tom Nunnelee. "J.W. will be available at visitations, funeral services and will also assist with removals."...

AARP teams with Express Personnel(06/18/05)SIKESTON - Express Personnel Services of Sikeston has affiliated with AARP as a Featured Employer, joining a select group of 11 other national employers, including companies in the retail, healthcare, staffing, financial and business services sectors...

New youth specialist will direct area 4-H programs(06/18/05)NEW MADRID - Clara B. Green will be the 4-H youth specialist, supervising 4- H youth programs in New Madrid, Mississippi, and Pemiscot, while headquartered in Stoddard County. Green has had a long history with University of Missouri Extension Service...

Another chapter(06/18/05)MINER - It isn't all the books, but their readers that have made the past 25 years so memorable, explained Joyce Hagy, who owns The Book Bug with her husband, Merlin. "We have customers who have been coming to The Book Bug for 25 years," said Hagy. Yet, there are still others who are just discovering the new and used bookstore located at 201 State Highway AA...

James Hensley(06/18/05)RISCO - James McArthur Hensley, 58, died June 17, 2005, at his home. Born Jan. 27, 1947, at Shirley, Ark., son of Ruby Sowell Hensley of Risco and the late Edward Hensley, he owned and operated a body shop and was a member of the First United Pentecostal Church in Campbell and the New Madrid County Alert Team Sheriff Department...

Larry Walls Sr.(06/18/05)BENTON - Larry Daniel Walls Sr., 61, formerly of Kennett, died June 16, 2005, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Born Feb. 15, 1944, at Kennett, he was the son of the late Artie and Leora Noble Walls. On Sept. 9, 1962, he married Helen Bryant who survives of Benton...

Sonny Gammons(06/18/05)EAST PRAIRIE - Frank E. "Sonny" Gammons, 63, died June 17, 2005, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Nov. 14, 1941, in Dorena, son of the late Carol Gammons and Minnie L. Busby and Eddie Watson, he lived most of his life in East Prairie and was of the Baptist belief...

Aaron Rapert(06/18/05)SIKESTON - Aaron Esselman Rapert, 79, formerly of Charleston, died at 8:18 p.m. June 16, 2005, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Feb. 21, 1926, in Maynard, Ark., son of the late Raymon and Jewell Rapert, he had lived in the Charleston area since 1941, moving to Sikeston in 2003. ...

Wilda Menley(06/18/05)BLOOMFIELD - Wilda Mae Menley, 73, died June 17, 2005, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Born July 4, 1931, in Strawberry, Ark., daughter of the late Jess H. and Alie Eagan Horn, since 1954 she had lived in Bloomfield where she was a member of the Church of Christ...

Chlora Gilmer(06/18/05)PARMA - Pallbearers for services conducted June 18, 2005, at the First Baptist Church in Parma for Chlora E. Gilmer, 91, who died June 15, 2005, were: Tommy Daniels, Wendell Wagner, Ted Morgan, Bob Lowrey, Bobby David Lowrey and Oscar Sapp.

Donald Dockins(06/18/05)ST. LOUIS -- Donald Dockins, 67, formerly of Sikeston, died June 17, 2005, at St. John's Place.
Arrangements are incomplete at this time at Ponder Funeral Home.

Looking Back in Time at June 19(06/18/05)SIKESTON - A son was born to Mr. and Mr. M.L. Farris of Sikeston at the local hospital yesterday. --- SIKESTON - Sgt. Billy York, who had been stationed with the Army Air Forces at Ardmore, Okla., was recently transferred to Laredo, Texas, where he will receive further training in gunnery...

Those with an active father are fortunate(06/18/05)Those of us blessed with a father who participated in our upbringing should consider ourselves fortunate. If you were to boil down the problems of society today, I believe one of the leading causes of concern is the lack of paternal guidance in far too many homes. And it strikes home especially on Father's Day...

Your view: Just remembering(06/18/05)To the Editor, Mike, I was just thinking back to the busy profitable town of years ago that was Sikeston. We didn't have electric overhead stop signs, but at the busiest times, especially on Saturday, we had Johnny Taylor directing traffic at intersections downtown. ...

Speakout 6/19(06/18/05)God is my light -- but you are my mirror. I look back and I see you watching with pride, my first smile, my first footstep -- I see as I grow, your thoughts, this is my little girl, I will help to guide her to teach her respect, to love, to be kind and now Daddy, I am slowly growing into a young woman. ...